A PERTH-BASED pharmacist is strenuously denying claims he caused nerve damage to patient when administering an influenza vaccine last week.
Patient Michael McGrady told a number of WA news outlets, including radio station PR6, that he had gone to a pharmacy near his work to get the flu vaccine and that the pharmacist who administered the vaccine "didn't really seem like he knew what he was doing", adding that the pharmacist was reading a piece of paper.
McGrady claimed the pharmacist proceeded to inject the vaccine into the back of his shoulder, which he described as "excruciating" when asked by PR6 presenter, Gary Adshead, whether it was painful.
A spokesperson for the pharmacy denied the allegations.
"Vaccinations in our pharmacy are carried out according to our vaccination training, with utmost regard for the safety and well-being of patients," the spokesperson said.
"No patient in our pharmacy has ever been administered the influenza vaccine by injection into the back.
"We are aware of a patient who has recently appeared on a television news item alleging that he was vaccinated by injection into the back...without identifying or denigrating the patient in any way, we categorically assert that no patient has ever received a flu vaccination in the back at our pharmacy," the pharmacist said.
"Influenza vaccines are administered through injection into the upper arm, with no exceptions.
"I administered a number of vaccinations that day and all of them were administered in exactly the same manner as per our accredited training. The paper work referred to would have been the required patient consent form which must be checked prior to administering the vaccination."
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